2.20 pm And drum rolls .. here is a trivia via Sundeep : "Today's match is the first ODI ever on August 10. And it completes ODIs on all 366 dates possible." This comes from Steven Lynch

Paul: "Damn.. Was hoping for Watling to play today! And was hoping to see a century stand between him and Williamson! But happy that Williamson is playing. "

Cricinfo's Assistant editor George Binoy chimes in: "Dhoni's wretched luck with the toss continues. New Zealand have a seam-heavy line-up which should be effective under lights. Williamson is their only spinning option I think."

2.10 pmToss: Ross Taylor has chosen to bat. "If we get a total on board, it would be great. We have couple of youngsters coming through. Anything over 250-260 should be a good score, looking at the Asia cup."

Dhoni: "We will be resting Ishant for this game. Thanks to the BCCI, for arranging the helicopter ride to Dambulla. We have just two days of. I don't think its not enough but this is a tough sport and we have to be mentally prepared for the game."

Great news: Kane Williamson makes his debut. People in the know have been raving about this kid of few years now. I am really excited to see how he goes about his task.

2.00 pm: Russell Arnold reckons its a no brainer - the team that wins the toss should bat, and if they score around 240, they'll be "laughing". Chasing under lights has proved hard under the less-than-ideal floodlights at the stadium.

1.45 pm: Hello and welcome to Cricinfo's coverage of the tri-series in Sri Lanka. The hosts, however, are not playing today, so it will be the visiting sides, India and New Zealand, playing each other.

New Zealand have been chilling for a while following a hectic schedule that ended with the two Twenty20 matches in Florida after the World Twenty20. They come into the tri-series having played a couple of warm-ups in Darwin, and two more in Sri Lanka, while India were playing the third Test at the P Sara Oval.

I wonder if Kane Williamson - they've been talking about him in New Zealand for ages now - will make a debut today. Danny Morrison reckons the pitch is greenish and will do a bit for the seamers. Win toss and avoid batting under lights was the way to go during the Asia Cup, it will probably be the same now.

Who will New Zealand pick from allrounders Grant Elliott, Scott Styris and Jacob Oram? They can't possibly play all three.They have three medium-pace allrounders to choose from. India would give an arm for one.

The toss is about four minutes away, enough time to speed read these stories from Siddarth Ravindran in Dambulla. Here's his series preview, in which Sid says New Zealand will gain valuable subcontinent experience from their time here. He also says this is an opportunity for Yuvraj to steer the focus back to his cricket, away from the fitness issues, away from Page 3.

As an unrelated aside, I just popped into Lalit Modi's twitter. Awesome! Mr Modi says he is reading the article- "Dharma in public place' That particular piece by Gurcharan Das ends with these lines. "In Mr Modi's case, we bring in his motives: He got tempted by greed; he needed to feed his ego and extravagant lifestyle, etc. We must remember: The child was saved! What difference does it make if the hero was trying to impress a girl?" You can find the url of the article in Modi's twitter page of course.

0.1

Kumar to Ingram,
no run,
some movement right away. It landed outside off and shaped in to move past the waft and hit the pad. It was missing the leg stump, though.

0.2

Kumar to Ingram,
no run,
in the zone outside off, again tilting in a touch, left alone

0.3

Kumar to Ingram,
no run,
This one is an outswinger and the batsman pushes inside the line ...

0.4

Kumar to Ingram,
FOUR,
And so PK tries the dream ball, trying to swing it from the leg stump line. As it often happens, this one doesn't swing much and the batsman whips it past square-leg

0.5

Kumar to Ingram,
no run,
full and moving away a touch, the batsman thinks about playing a shot but decides against it. Wise decision. Slips waiting for a mistake

0.6

Kumar to Ingram,
no run,
goes after a similar delivery and it again swings away and luckily, for him, misses the outside edge.

End of over 1 (4 runs)
New Zealand 4/0
(RR: 4.00)

PJ Ingram4 (6b 1x4)

MJ Guptill0 (0b)

P Kumar1-0-4-0

1.1

Nehra to Guptill,
2 runs,
on the middle and leg, flicked past square-leg

1.2

Nehra to Guptill,
FOUR,
Whippity whip! It was the full delivery on the middle stump and he whipped it through midwicket. had he missed, he would have been caught plumb in front but he seemed pretty confident of playing that shot

1.3

Nehra to Guptill,
1 run,
around the middle and leg, line, turned behind square-leg for a single

1.4

Nehra to Ingram,
no run,
gets across to push this length delivery to point

1.5

Nehra to Ingram,
no run,
short in length, bounces on the middle stump line and he goes for the pull, misses, and is hit on the thigh

1.6

Nehra to Ingram,
no run,
in the zone, angling away from Ingram who lets it go through to the keeper

Phil: "Why can't the ICC look into the matter of the dodgy floodlights?"

End of over 2 (7 runs)
New Zealand 11/0
(RR: 5.50)

PJ Ingram4 (9b 1x4)

MJ Guptill7 (3b 1x4)

A Nehra1-0-7-0

P Kumar1-0-4-0

2.1

Kumar to Guptill,
FOUR,
good delivery ,shaping away late on the off-stump line and Guptill leans forward to defend and it runs of the outer edge past gully and Ojha, running to his left at third man, can't cut it off

2.2

Kumar to Guptill,
no run,
leans forward to defend this length delivery to the off side.

2.3

Kumar to Guptill,
OUT,
PK has been getting some movement - both in and out - and strikes with this delivery. It moves away late from the off stump line and the batsman gets the edge on the defensive prod. He was looking to come forward to defend and tried to cover for the movement but it shaped away to catch the edge. Simple catch through to Dhoni.

MJ Guptill c †Dhoni b Kumar 11 (9m 6b 2x4 0x6) SR: 183.33

2.4

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
Nice. He tries the inswinger this time and the batsman pushes it of the back foot

2.5

Kumar to Taylor,
1 run,
length delivery on the middle and leg, worked through wide midwicket for a single

2.6

Kumar to Ingram,
no run,
short in length and outside off stump, the batsman thinks about playing a shot but withdraws his bat from the line of trouble

End of over 3 (5 runs)
New Zealand 16/1
(RR: 5.33)

PJ Ingram4 (10b 1x4)

LRPL Taylor1 (2b)

P Kumar2-0-9-1

A Nehra1-0-7-0

Cricinfo's George Binoy: "Rather refreshing to see an ODI pitch that does a bit for the bowlers. This is all the format needs. Instead of tinkering with the format and whatnot - just dish out more competitive pitches." True that.

3.1

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
around the off stump line, he gets forward to push it back down the track.

3.2

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
around the middle and off line, straightens a touch, carefully pushed back to the bowler

3.3

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
slower, moves away from the off stump, gets away from the outside edge of the bat and bounces once before it reaches Dhoni.

3.4

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
gets on the back foot to dab this length delivery to midwicket

3.5

Nehra to Taylor,
1 leg bye,
around the leg stump line, tilting in and it rolls away of the pads to backward square-leg region

3.6

Nehra to Ingram,
1 run,
lands outside off stump, Ingram goes back to punch it clear of backward point

End of over 4 (2 runs)
New Zealand 18/1
(RR: 4.50)

PJ Ingram5 (11b 1x4)

LRPL Taylor1 (7b)

A Nehra2-0-8-0

P Kumar2-0-9-1

4.1

Kumar to Ingram,
no run

4.2

Kumar to Ingram,
FOUR,
Twhack! It was a delivery slipping down the leg side and Ingram plays the pick-up shot. Flicks it up and over square-leg.

4.3

Kumar to Ingram,
2 runs,
He has already shown a penchant to use that bottom-hand of his and whip full deliveries through the on side. He does it again, this time through midwicket

4.4

Kumar to Ingram,
1 run,
steers this through to third man for a single

My Colleague Nitin Sundar, who is writing the bulletin today, says: "Nitin Sundar, who is writing the bulletin today, says: "In three overs, Praveen and Nehra have swung the ball more often than Ishant and Mithun could through out the Test series." Right! The white ball will move about. it should be interesting to see how much it wobbles under lights. Russel Arnold was of the opinion 240 should be enough

4.5

Kumar to Taylor,
2 runs,
on the pads, a length delivery on the middle and the leg, flicked away past square-leg

4.6

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
shout for lbw. The ball is just outside off and hits him high on the pad as he shapes forward to defend,

End of over 5 (9 runs)
New Zealand 27/1
(RR: 5.40)

LRPL Taylor3 (9b)

PJ Ingram12 (15b 2x4)

P Kumar3-0-18-1

A Nehra2-0-8-0

5.1

Nehra to Ingram,
no run,
Swing and a miss. Well there was some width on offer and he went after it but couldn't get wood on leather

5.2

Nehra to Ingram,
OUT,
Nehra gets some leather on wood this time. It was in the corridor, seaming away ever so late and Ingram was looking to defend but it got the outside edge. India on the attack here. Both bowlers fresh as they didn't play the Test series and doing the job here.

PJ Ingram c †Dhoni b Nehra 12 (23m 17b 2x4 0x6) SR: 70.58

Nick: "Another misfire from Guptill... He's bound to be feeling the pressure of holding his place, especially once McCullum and Ryder come back."

5.3

Nehra to Williamson,
no run,
Right then, WIlliamson faces his first international delivery and squeezes this one to backward point

5.4

Nehra to Williamson,
no run,
straightens on the middle stump line, turned to right of midwicket

5.5

Nehra to Williamson,
no run,
on the pads, he tries to tuck it away but misses and the ball rolls away of the pad

5.6

Nehra to Williamson,
1 leg bye,
And again. The bat comes down at an angle and he can't quite connect with the delivery on the pads.

Kane stands with his bat raised in the air btw

End of over 6 (1 run, wicket maiden)
New Zealand 28/2
(RR: 4.66)

KS Williamson0 (4b)

LRPL Taylor3 (9b)

A Nehra3-1-8-1

P Kumar3-0-18-1

Nishad: "Tough conditions for Williamson to Debut. Seaming conditions on a sub continent wicket. True potental will be tested,"

6.1

Kumar to Williamson,
no run,
around the off stump line, pushed away to covers

6.2

Kumar to Williamson,
no run,
leans forward to push the length delivery back down the track

Short extra cover in place now. Pressure on the kid.

6.3

Kumar to Williamson,
no run,
lovely delivery seaming away from the off stump line and Williamson pushes inside the line and the ball flies past the outside edge. He looks down at where the ball landed

6.4

Kumar to Williamson,
no run,
And this time, he prefers no drama. He covers the off stump and shoulders arms. Dhoni collects it.

6.5

Kumar to Williamson,
OUT,
Out for a duck! What a ball, though. P E A C H. It curved in the air, landed on the middle stump line and you could sense why Williamson was shaping to play it towards say mid-on. But the ball moved away at the last instant, opened him up completely, and pegged back the off stump. Clatter! Things are bound to get better from here on Williamson. You can't get such a good delivery every time you walk out to bat. He doesn't look back at the destruction. He has a look at where it landed, his mouth frozen into an bewildered expression of 'oooh' and he walks away.

KS Williamson b Kumar 0 (7m 9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

6.6

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
in the zone outside off stump and Dhoni gathers

End of over 7 (wicket maiden)
New Zealand 28/3
(RR: 4.00)

SB Styris0 (1b)

LRPL Taylor3 (9b)

P Kumar4-1-18-2

A Nehra3-1-8-1

7.1

Nehra to Taylor,
1 run,
on the middle stump line, the pad comes first - dangerous- but the bat comes around in time - phew! - and the ball rolls to square-leg

7.2

Nehra to Styris,
no run,
short in length on the middle, clipped to the on side

7.3

Nehra to Styris,
1 run,
works this to backward square-leg region to pick up a single

7.4

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
And as always Taylor pushes the pad across first before getting the bat around in time to play it towards mid-on

7.5

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
this one cuts away from the middle, towards off, and Taylor adjusts to stab it to the off

7.6

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
this one curves in from outside off and Taylor presents the full bat-face to defend

End of over 8 (2 runs)
New Zealand 30/3
(RR: 3.75)

LRPL Taylor4 (13b)

SB Styris1 (3b)

A Nehra4-1-10-1

P Kumar4-1-18-2

Oli Creighton: "Good to know NZ have darryl tuffey still to bat :D he hasnt been batting bad in test. but that's test. great job indian bowlers"

8.1

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
lands outside off and veers further away, left alone

8.2

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
just outside off, moving away again, squeezed out to backward point

8.3

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
around the off stump line, pushed back down the track

8.4

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
Shout for lbw PK floated this ball in, the batsman had pushed that front leg too far across and couldn't get the bat around in time. He was hit in front of middle stump and Hawk eye shows it would have clipped the outside half of the leg stump,

8.5

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
full and moving away, driven to the off side of the pitch and PK deflects it to mid-off

8.6

Kumar to Styris,
no run

End of over 9 (maiden)
New Zealand 30/3
(RR: 3.33)

SB Styris1 (9b)

LRPL Taylor4 (13b)

P Kumar5-2-18-2

A Nehra4-1-10-1

Jagadish: "Williamson was the 15th NZ batsmen to go for a duck on debut. Do you guys know if any of the current NZ players are part of that infamous list?"

9.1

Mithun to Taylor,
1 wide,
moves down the leg side and Dhoni collects

9.1

Mithun to Taylor,
no run,
cuts back from outside off, more than what Taylor anticipated and he gets cramped but manages to punch it out to point

9.2

Mithun to Taylor,
1 run,
tip and run. He pushes it towards mid-off for what initially seemed a very quick single but turned out to be a pretty comfortably-taken run

9.3

Mithun to Styris,
2 runs,
fullish, on the middle, moving in and Styris works it between short midwicket and square-leg fielders

9.4

Mithun to Styris,
no run,
it lands well outside off and cuts back in sharply. Styris was looking to defend and was struck high on the pad outside the line of off stump

9.5

Mithun to Styris,
no run,
Shout for a catch behind decision. It was another incutter from outside off and again, Styris pushed outside the line of the delivery. It's cutting in more than he thinks it would. The ball hit the pad. I don't think there was any bat on it. The initial replays don't show any. Further replays on that shout for a catch throw more doubts! It looks as if there might have been an inside edge on to the pad. But no snicko (not yet at least) and no hot spot. Can't really say.

9.6

Mithun to Styris,
no run,
Another one that cuts back in from outside off and again Styris is in trouble. This time he is hit high on the pad.

End of over 10 (4 runs)
New Zealand 34/3
(RR: 3.40)

SB Styris3 (13b)

LRPL Taylor5 (15b)

A Mithun1-0-4-0

P Kumar5-2-18-2

Bowling Powerplay taken

10.1

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
pushes this delivery towards covers, thinks about a single but changes his mind

10.2

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
leans well forward to defend the length delivery to point

10.3

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
punches it to backward point and Yuvraj Singh fires a direct hit at the stumps at the non-striker's end

Further replays on that shout for a catch throw more doubts! It looks as if there might have been an inside edge on to the pad. But no snicko (not yet at least) and no hot spot. Can't really say.

10.4

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
leans forward to work it to the midwicket region

10.5

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
PK thinks Taylor with his penchant to press his front leg across is an lbw candidate and is going after him. Another inswinger on the middle stump line, Taylor gets the bat in front of the pad to push it through to mid-on

10.6

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
around the off stump line, defended to the off side

End of over 11 (maiden)
New Zealand 34/3
(RR: 3.09)

LRPL Taylor5 (21b)

SB Styris3 (13b)

P Kumar6-3-18-2

A Mithun1-0-4-0

11.1

Mithun to Styris,
4 leg byes,
Like in his first over, he pushes the first ball to the pads and Styris plays the leg glance to perfection. Oh may be not! Leg byes apparently! Where is the eye doctor!

11.2

Mithun to Styris,
no run,
gets behind the line to push this one away

11.3

Mithun to Styris,
no run,
another one that tilts towards the pads, Styris falls over a touch as he tries to flick it away and is hit on the pad.

11.4

Mithun to Styris,
1 run,
Loud shout for lbw but turned down. It was another nip-backer, that cut in from outside off and Styris is in more trouble. He was hit in front of the middle stump but was saved by the height. It would have gone over the middle stump.

11.5

Mithun to Taylor,
no run,
gets forward to defend this to the off side

11.6

Mithun to Taylor,
2 runs,
on the pads this time, easily worked away to deep backward square-leg region

Cricinfo's Nitin Sundar again: "Mithun has a really potent ball that comes in off the seam - shades of his statemate Javagal Srinath in that.. Remember how often Srinath got wickets caught at short leg, as opposed to the slips! But Srinath developed the away swinger late in his career and Mithun needs to do likewise if he wants to become truly menacing."

End of over 12 (7 runs)
New Zealand 41/3
(RR: 3.41)

LRPL Taylor7 (23b)

SB Styris4 (17b)

A Mithun2-0-7-0

P Kumar6-3-18-2

12.1

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
leans across to push this to covers

12.2

Kumar to Styris,
no run,
short in length, on the middle, pushed to the onside of the pitch

Mithun to Styris,
no run,
leans forward to defend a length delivery tilting in from outside off stump

13.5

Mithun to Styris,
3 runs,
fuller, straightens outside off - he might not have the ability to curve it away yet but slips in the straight ball now and then - and Styris drives through covers.

13.6

Mithun to Taylor,
no run,
on the middle stump line, worked to midwicket

End of over 14 (5 runs)
New Zealand 52/3
(RR: 3.71)

LRPL Taylor12 (27b 1x4)

SB Styris9 (25b)

A Mithun3-0-12-0

P Kumar7-3-24-2

Bajwah: "I don't think Mithun will last too long in international arena because he has not enough weapons in the armory. We have been seeing his one delivery all the tests and now in first ODI. The ball coming in."

14.1

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
on the middle and leg, driven back to Ojha

Jack: "Just hope Jadeja does nt spoil the Indian party with his ordinary bowling."

14.2

Ojha to Styris,
1 run,
leans forward to off drive for a single

14.3

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
on the middle stump line, pushed to left of mid-on for a single

14.4

Ojha to Styris,
1 run,
gets down the track and dabs it to right of midwicket

14.5

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
leans forward to defend back down the pitch

There is a short mid-on in place

14.6

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
loopy delivery outside off and it's almost chipped to short extra cover. It falls short of the diving fielder

Dinesh: "Seeing the way Praveen kumar bowls with the new ball,,Why wasnt he tried in tests,,India badly missed a swing bowler in first two tests which did not offer any help to bowlers." Hmmm I remember once asking him doesnt he think himself as a Test bowler and he went, "Bhai, Chance deyke dekho! prove karta hoon " (Give me a chance)

End of over 15 (4 runs)
New Zealand 56/3
(RR: 3.73)

LRPL Taylor14 (30b 1x4)

SB Styris11 (28b)

PP Ojha1-0-4-0

A Mithun3-0-12-0

15.1

Mithun to Taylor,
1 wide,
this one slips down the leg. Again, the first ball of the over.

15.1

Mithun to Taylor,
no run,
gets forward to defend this back-of-length delivery

15.2

Mithun to Taylor,
FOUR,
Crunch! It was a length delivery outside off and Taylor whiplashed it on the up and through cover point

15.3

Mithun to Taylor,
1 run,
strays on the leg and middle line, flicked away for a single

15.4

Mithun to Styris,
FOUR,
Crack of doom! short and well outside off and Styris cuts hard past the diving yuvraj singh at point. Fierce square-cut.

15.5

Mithun to Styris,
1 wide,
And pushes this one down the leg side. The last ball was an attempt at bowling the straighter one.

15.5

Mithun to Styris,
1 run,
lands this outside off and cuts it back in to the middle, clipped past square-leg where that Indian crowd favourite Jadeja stops.

15.6

Mithun to Taylor,
1 leg bye,
on the middle and off line, dabbed away to the on side

End of over 16 (13 runs)
New Zealand 69/3
(RR: 4.31)

LRPL Taylor19 (34b 2x4)

SB Styris16 (30b 1x4)

A Mithun4-0-24-0

PP Ojha1-0-4-0

Nitin: "Please confirm. Am I reading this right? Yuvraj back at Point?" Yes boss! Such surprise?!

16.1

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
scramble for a catch! Taylor went for the sweep and it popped up on the off side. Raina dashed across from short extra cover and Ojha charged to his left but it fell nicely between them

Phani: "@ Dinesh: If ball becomes old, Praveen will be a very oridinay bowler. Similar to Ganguly's bowling."

16.2

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
leans forward to defend this one

16.3

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
around the off stump, steered to point

16.4

Ojha to Taylor,
2 runs,
turns away sharply from Taylor who tries to withdraw his bat from the line but gets the edge and the ball rolls well clear of Sehwag at slip

16.5

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
turns away from the off stump, left alone

16.6

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
turns from the middle stump line, squeezed to point for a single

End of over 17 (3 runs)
New Zealand 72/3
(RR: 4.23)

LRPL Taylor22 (40b 2x4)

SB Styris16 (30b 1x4)

PP Ojha2-0-7-0

A Mithun4-0-24-0

R Jadeja to bowl.

Nick: "You'd think we would be worried after a top-order collapse, but such has become part of the reality of being an NZ fan. Our batters tend to thrive on the fifth bowling option anyway..."

17.1

Jadeja to Taylor,
no run,
it turns away from the off stump, left alone

17.2

Jadeja to Taylor,
2 runs,
slightly short and the batsman cuts it past point for couple more runs

17.3

Jadeja to Taylor,
no run,
flighted outside off stump, leans forward to defend

17.4

Jadeja to Taylor,
FOUR,
Nicely played! It was turning away from the off stump and Taylor plays it late and cuts it well clear of backward point

17.5

Jadeja to Taylor,
no run,
around off stump, cut away to point where Yuvraj stops

17.6

Jadeja to Taylor,
FOUR,
Another short ball. Well not really short but short of length and not much turn. Taylor rocks back to cut it left of backward point

End of over 18 (10 runs)
New Zealand 82/3
(RR: 4.55)

LRPL Taylor32 (46b 4x4)

SB Styris16 (30b 1x4)

RA Jadeja1-0-10-0

PP Ojha2-0-7-0

18.1

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
nice. Slow and turning away from the off stump, Styris was beaten, playing a drive

18.2

Ojha to Styris,
1 bye,
Dhoni misses a stumping chance Both the batsman and the keeper done in by the turn. It drifted in, landed on the middle stump line and Styris had charged down the track for the big hit and missed it completely. And Dhoni was moving towards his left and failed to take it cleanly

18.3

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
around the off stump line, squeezed to point

18.4

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
stays behind the line to defend to the on side

18.5

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
Run out appeal It has gone up to the third umpire. Not out. It was pushed towards backward point and Rohit ran to his right, picked and fired a direct hit at the non-striker's end

18.6

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
Another fine delivery, turning away from the middle and off line, Styris is beaten, trying to dab it to the off

End of over 19 (2 runs)
New Zealand 84/3
(RR: 4.42)

SB Styris16 (33b 1x4)

LRPL Taylor33 (49b 4x4)

PP Ojha3-0-8-0

RA Jadeja1-0-10-0

Patturaja: "@Phani:Boss Praveen has taken 5 wicket hauls 12 times in 37 first class matches at an average of 23.16.Not to underestimate his batting skills,he could be the bowling allrounder India looking for in Test matches."

19.1

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
1 run,
leans forward to dab this to the on side

NZ Fans, FYI, Indians tend to use a lot of "boss" in speech. It's used like how you use "Mate"

19.2

Yuvraj Singh to Styris,
1 run,
stays back to push this through to point

19.3

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
2 runs,
on the middle and leg, worked through square-leg

19.4

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
no run,
around the off stump line, pushed towards mid-on

19.5

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
1 run,
leans forward to work this to right of mid-on

19.6

Yuvraj Singh to Styris,
1 run,
takes it from the off stump line and wrists it to square-leg

End of over 20 (6 runs)
New Zealand 90/3
(RR: 4.50)

SB Styris18 (35b 1x4)

LRPL Taylor37 (53b 4x4)

Yuvraj Singh1-0-6-0

PP Ojha3-0-8-0

Suresh: "Time to remove JAdeja as Yuvi can bowl the overs Jadeja can bowl and bring in a fast bowling all rounder.May be Irfan Pathan for one last chance?"

20.1

Ojha to Styris,
2 runs,
around the middle and leg line, Styris goes forthe paddle sweep and by the time Sehwag rushes back from slips, they come back for the second run

20.2

Ojha to Styris,
1 run,
Ah! interesting. He again went for the paddle, then seemed to change his mind before he went again for that shot! It was pretty slow through the air.

20.3

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
leans forward to defend back down the track

20.4

Ojha to Taylor,
2 runs,
stays back to cut this to deep backward point region where Jadeja stops

20.5

Ojha to Taylor,
FOUR,
Ah! superbly played. It was the quicker one from Ojha, Taylor adjusted quickly to cut it late and plays it to the left of backward point

Dhoni says, don't bowl there

20.6

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
on the middle and off line, Taylor gets a leading edge, trying to work it across the line

End of over 21 (9 runs)
New Zealand 99/3
(RR: 4.71)

LRPL Taylor43 (57b 5x4)

SB Styris21 (37b 1x4)

PP Ojha4-0-17-0

Yuvraj Singh1-0-6-0

Amit: "Jadeja, ohhhh no.. - I cant remember any match which Jadeja won for India , and everyone remembers so many which he lost."

21.1

Yuvraj Singh to Styris,
1 run,
goes down the track and drives to right of mid-on for a single

21.2

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
1 run,
around the off stump line, pushed through mid-off

21.3

Yuvraj Singh to Styris,
1 run,
floated full outside off stump, square driven to deep point

21.4

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
1 run,
leans forward to drive to mid-on for a quick single .. Rohit with the throw that misses the stumps. Taylor would have been home even if it had hit

21.5

Yuvraj Singh to Styris,
1 run,
goes back to punch it through wide mid-on region

21.6

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
no run,
around the off stump line, turned to the on side

End of over 22 (5 runs)
New Zealand 104/3
(RR: 4.72)

LRPL Taylor45 (60b 5x4)

SB Styris24 (40b 1x4)

Yuvraj Singh2-0-11-0

PP Ojha4-0-17-0

Gareth: "I'm surprised Ashwin wasn't give a chance. He was so impressive in the IPL, you would have to think he deserves a shot with the one day side. "

22.1

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
slightly short in length, turns away from the off stump, Styris went for the cut but the ball flashed past the edge. Dhoni fails to collect it cleanly. Hmm

22.2

Ojha to Styris,
1 run,
leans forward to play the off drive for a single

22.3

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
edged but clear of the diving Raina at short extra covers. It was a flighted delivery on the middle and leg and Taylor, like he did in the last over, gets a leading edge as he tries to work it against the turn. Raina charged to his left and dived but couldn't reach

22.4

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
gets forward to push this to the on side

22.5

Ojha to Styris,
FOUR,
Neat. He glided forward and lifted the flighted delivery over mid-on

22.6

Ojha to Styris,
FOUR,
Crack! Ojha tries to change his length after the previous delivery and drags this slightly short and Styris rocks back to cut it late to the backward-point boundary.

End of over 23 (10 runs)
New Zealand 114/3
(RR: 4.95)

SB Styris33 (45b 3x4)

LRPL Taylor46 (61b 5x4)

PP Ojha5-0-27-0

Yuvraj Singh2-0-11-0

23.1

Yuvraj Singh to Taylor,
1 run,
around the off stump line, worked wide of midwicket

23.2

Yuvraj Singh to Styris,
no run,
outside the off stump, pushed towards Sehwag at backward point

23.3

Yuvraj Singh to Styris,
1 run,
on the middle stump line, eased down to long-on

Jadeja to Styris,
FOUR,
Tonked! It was floated outside off and Styris went down on his knee to smash it over midwicket

25.2

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
shout for lbw but there was an inside edge. He was trying to turn it the on side and got an inside edge and also struck him outside off

25.3

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
leans forward to drive to covers

25.4

Jadeja to Styris,
1 run,
gets forward to ping sweeper cover. 100 of the partnership comes up. Needless to say, NZ were in some strife when these two started

25.5

Jadeja to Taylor,
no run,
quicker, around off and middle, punched to covers

25.6

Jadeja to Taylor,
no run,
around the off stump line, squeezed towards backward point

End of over 26 (5 runs)
New Zealand 128/3
(RR: 4.92)

LRPL Taylor51 (70b 5x4)

SB Styris42 (54b 4x4)

RA Jadeja2-0-15-0

V Sehwag1-0-4-0

26.1

Sehwag to Styris,
2 runs,
flighted on the middle stump line, Styris plays his fav sweep to collect two more runs

26.2

Sehwag to Styris,
1 run,
gets down the track and reaches outside off to steer it to point

26.3

Sehwag to Taylor,
no run,
tries to flick it from around off stump and is struck on the pad. he shuffles across and then tries to go the on side

26.4

Sehwag to Taylor,
no run,
quickish, on the middle stump line, dabbed to short midwicket

26.5

Sehwag to Taylor,
no run,
slower, around off stump, again worked towards short midwicket

26.6

Sehwag to Taylor,
1 run,
works this one down to long-on for a single

End of over 27 (4 runs)
New Zealand 132/3
(RR: 4.88)

LRPL Taylor52 (74b 5x4)

SB Styris45 (56b 4x4)

V Sehwag2-0-8-0

RA Jadeja2-0-15-0

27.1

Jadeja to Taylor,
1 run,
around the middle stump line, punched to midwicket

27.2

Jadeja to Styris,
1 run,
around the off stump, punched to deep point

Kevin: "R Jadeja - In many ways, he reminds me a case of Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who managed a long stint with the team for hitting 1 four against Pakistan. Can anyone explain Dhoni's confidence on him?" Ah! that four!

27.3

Jadeja to Taylor,
1 run,
around the off stump line, pushed towards point for a quick single. Yuvraj fires a throw at the non-striker's end

27.4

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
leans forward to drive to the off side of the pitch

27.5

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
around the off stump, steered to backward point

27.6

Jadeja to Styris,
1 run,
leans forward to drive to long-off

End of over 28 (4 runs)
New Zealand 136/3
(RR: 4.85)

SB Styris47 (60b 4x4)

LRPL Taylor54 (76b 5x4)

RA Jadeja3-0-19-0

V Sehwag2-0-8-0

Smears: "hoping Taylor will keep his head and not throw his wicket away with another senseless slog sweep right after New Zealand regain momentum."

28.1

Sehwag to Styris,
no run,
lunges forward to on drive but the ball dips and turns to hit the pad

28.2

Sehwag to Styris,
1 wide,
lands on the middle and leg and turns down leg. Styris fails to connect with the paddle shot

Dhoni has hurt his fingers, trying to collect that. He had hurt that during the Test series

28.2

Sehwag to Styris,
no run,
leans forward to work it to midwicket

28.3

Sehwag to Styris,
1 run,
charges down the track for the big lofted hit over long-on but the ball dips rapidly on him and he ends up dragging it to deep midwicket

28.4

Sehwag to Taylor,
SIX,
It's time to slog-sweep. Taylor's fav hit. He went down on his knee and slapped this over the on-side boundary. Thump!

28.5

Sehwag to Taylor,
no run,
leans forward to dab this to the on side

28.6

Sehwag to Taylor,
1 run,
on the middle and off, punched past the non-striker

Jadeja to Styris,
1 run,
quicker, on the middle, Styris gets back to clip it past square-leg

29.3

Jadeja to Taylor,
1 run,
on the off stump line, squeezed behind square-leg for a single

29.4

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
slower, outside off stump, driven to short extra cover

29.5

Jadeja to Styris,
2 runs,
on the middle and leg line, flicked through midwicket

And that's Styris' fifty. Superb partnership this.

29.6

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
leans forward to nudge this to square-leg

End of over 30 (5 runs)
New Zealand 150/3
(RR: 5.00)

SB Styris51 (67b 4x4)

LRPL Taylor62 (81b 5x4 1x6)

RA Jadeja4-0-23-0

V Sehwag3-0-17-0

Shaneo: "I agree with Smears, NZ have had some great batsman, Fleming, Twose, Astle but they have never ended up with that never get out mentality of the Australians....i'd love to see Gups and Taylor show they are worthy of a 45 average ."

Batting Powerplay taken

30.1

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
short in length, quickish, cut to backward point

Batting Powerplay taken

Irfan Mansoor: "almost out of contention Styriss came back as last minute replacement for Vettori vs Aus in Feb-March, got man of the match and since then not looked back."

30.2

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
around the off stump, driven to short extra cover

30.3

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
And again.

30.4

Ojha to Styris,
1 run,
This time he drives it down to long-off for a single

30.5

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
Taylor went for the big expansive drive over extra covers but was beaten by the sharp turn. Dhoni collects

30.6

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
works this one to the leg side

End of over 31 (2 runs)
New Zealand 152/3
(RR: 4.90)

LRPL Taylor63 (84b 5x4 1x6)

SB Styris52 (70b 4x4)

PP Ojha6-0-29-0

RA Jadeja4-0-23-0

Omar: "This is exactly when Batting powerplay should be taken...Many teams leave it too late...!"

31.1

Jadeja to Styris,
FOUR,
Very nice! He sashayed down the track, reached forward and chipped it over the bowler.

31.2

Jadeja to Styris,
FOUR,
Bang! He moved outside the leg stump and cut it hard through point region.

31.3

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
leans across and flicks straight to short midwicket

31.4

Jadeja to Styris,
1 run,
on the off and middle, on driven to long-on

31.5

Jadeja to Taylor,
no run,
gets forward to punch it down to midwicket

31.6

Jadeja to Taylor,
1 run,
fetches it from outside off and sweeps it hard but straight to the fielder in the deep

Cricinfo's Nitin Sundar: "Taking the batting Powerplay early is a double-edged sword. NZ will know - Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh took it in the 23rd over in an ODI last year and plundered them. At the same time, there have been several instances of batting sides losing too many wickets and losing steam during the restrictions. The key is to not over-reach here."

End of over 32 (10 runs)
New Zealand 162/3
(RR: 5.06)

LRPL Taylor64 (86b 5x4 1x6)

SB Styris61 (74b 6x4)

RA Jadeja5-0-33-0

PP Ojha6-0-29-0

Shakeel Ahmed: "Scott Styris Reaches Land Mark 4000 Runs In ODI"

32.1

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
on the middle and leg, pushed towards the bowler

32.2

Ojha to Taylor,
FOUR,
He seemed to slightly beaten in flight there but went through with the lofted drive over covers. He went inside-out and carved it up and over! Neat!

32.3

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
tries to dab this to the on side for a single and gets a leading edge to covers

32.4

Ojha to Taylor,
1 wide,
pushes this through quicker and also, down the leg side

32.4

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
around the off stump line, dabbed to backward point for a quick single but Rohit Sharma fumbles

32.5

Ojha to Styris,
FOUR,
superbly adjusted! Styris was backing to the leg side and Ojha slowed it u and ave more air. Styris waited, leaned across and sliced it over point!

32.6

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
Appeal for stumping Third umpire into the act. Not out. It was the loopy delivery that turned away sharply. Styris was leaning forward for the drive but landed his back leg in time

End of over 33 (10 runs)
New Zealand 172/3
(RR: 5.21)

SB Styris65 (76b 7x4)

LRPL Taylor69 (90b 6x4 1x6)

PP Ojha7-0-39-0

RA Jadeja5-0-33-0

Lijo: "Scot Styris is the third NZ player to score 4000 runs and with more than 100 wickets in hand. "

More often than not, its Nehra who Dhoni turns to in batting powerplays

Nehra to Styris,
no run,
shuffles to outside-off and has a swing to the on side. The ball was pushed further away from him and Dhoni collects

33.3

Nehra to Styris,
no run,
Beaten by the slower one this time. It moved across Styris who was through early with his square drive

33.4

Nehra to Styris,
FOUR,
Thump! Nehra bowls this short, perhaps he thought Styris would be charging out, but Styris waits back, reaches outside off and carves it over backward point

33.5

Nehra to Styris,
2 runs,
moves outside leg, Nehra follows him with a length delivery and Styris drags it to deep square-leg region

33.6

Nehra to Styris,
FOUR,
Crashed! He backed away to the leg side, Nehra tried to follow him with a full delivery, and he blasted it past mid-on

End of over 34 (11 runs)
New Zealand 183/3
(RR: 5.38)

SB Styris75 (81b 9x4)

LRPL Taylor70 (91b 6x4 1x6)

A Nehra5-1-21-1

PP Ojha7-0-39-0

KM: "Despite supporting team India, I am very happy to see Taylor using the added pressure to captaincy to enhance his game. Now only if he could do it more often, I can see NZ side looking far more balanced and competitive. And yeah, Styris has been superb too."

34.1

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
in the zone outside off, shapes away, Taylor tried to crash it on the up but made no contact

34.2

Kumar to Taylor,
FOUR,
Whiplash! Fullish and outside off, Taylor went down on his knee to play a very stylish square drive.

34.3

Kumar to Taylor,
no run,
shuffled towards off, steadied himself and drove it hard but couldn't beat the fielder at covers.

34.4

Kumar to Taylor,
FOUR,
Slap-swat! Again, he went down on his knee and this time he slapped the slower one - short-of-length delivery outside off - to wide midwicket boundary

34.5

Kumar to Taylor,
1 run,
another slower one, outside off stump, cut to left of backward point where Yuvraj makes a tumbling half-stop

34.6

Kumar to Styris,
1 run,
backs to the on side and clips the slower short-of-length delivery to midwicket

Cricinfo's Nitin: "Well played NZ - they have picked eight boundaries the Powerplay overs and ensured that even if this stand is broken, there is enough momentum to reach 270. No need to go hammer and tongs in these overs, if you pick your gaps when the field is in - both batsmen did that well in this phase."

End of over 35 (10 runs)
New Zealand 193/3
(RR: 5.51)

SB Styris76 (82b 9x4)

LRPL Taylor79 (96b 8x4 1x6)

P Kumar8-3-34-2

A Nehra5-1-21-1

35.1

Nehra to Styris,
1 run,
stays back to run this down to third man

35.2

Nehra to Taylor,
1 run,
short in length, angling away from Ross who stabs it to third man

35.3

Nehra to Styris,
no run,
Big swing and a miss. Styris tried to go over the on-side field but couldn't connect

Another colleague of mine, Sid Talya, can't stop raving: "That Ross Taylor swipe is a pure delight. I saw him play a couple of those against the Pakistan seamers during the Test series in New Zealand. With Grant Elliott and Jacob Oram still to come New Zealand look good to get 300. What say?"

35.4

Nehra to Styris,
1 run,
guides this to backward point and they cross over

35.5

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
just outside off stump, chopped to Yuvraj at backward point

35.6

Nehra to Taylor,
3 runs,
short in length, just outside off stump, punched past Yuvraj for a single

End of over 36 (6 runs)
New Zealand 199/3
(RR: 5.52)

LRPL Taylor83 (99b 8x4 1x6)

SB Styris78 (85b 9x4)

A Nehra6-1-27-1

P Kumar8-3-34-2

James: "I think you said at the start 250-260 would be a good score. 6 an over off the last 15 should be possible - gives them 283." Russel Arnold reckoned anything over 240 is good. Ross Taylor wanted something around 260

Ojha to Styris,
1 run,
leans forward to push it wide of Yuvraj at point

36.3

Ojha to Taylor,
2 runs,
on the middle stump line, on driven through wide midwicket. Rohit charges in from the deep but doesn't pick up the ball cleanly

36.4

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
quicker, on the middle and leg, turned to square-leg and Dhoni rushes after it

36.5

Ojha to Styris,
1 run,
flighted full on the middle, eased to square-leg again

36.6

Ojha to Taylor,
2 runs,
leans forward to flick it through midwicket.

Cricinfo's bulletin writer Nitin again: "Scott Styris for me is the most under-rated cricketer in the world.. Along with Nuwan Kulasekara. Time to do a Cricinfo XI of these guys.. I suspect you will have several New Zealanders in the mix." Hmm .. I think you should do it. Next Thursday?!

End of over 37 (8 runs)
New Zealand 207/3
(RR: 5.59)

LRPL Taylor89 (103b 8x4 1x6)

SB Styris80 (87b 9x4)

PP Ojha8-0-47-0

A Nehra6-1-27-1

Guruprasad: "I still remember that gutsy little innings by Scott Styris against a strong Pakistani bowling unit in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000, especially his straight six off Wasim Akram. The NZ selectors would do well to include him for WC 2011. "

37.1

Jadeja to Styris,
1 leg bye,
leans forward to jab this to the on side for a single

37.2

Jadeja to Taylor,
1 leg bye,
sliding down leg, rolls of the pad to backward square-leg. Jadeja appeals. Dhoni runs after the ball.

37.3

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
on the leg stump line, tries to flick, misses and is hit on the pad

37.4

Jadeja to Styris,
no run,
And again. Two in a row now. Styris practices playing it straighter

37.5

Jadeja to Styris,
2 runs,
moves outside leg stump this time and chips this inside-out over covers

37.6

Jadeja to Styris,
1 run,
on that leg stump line, pushed down to long-on

End of over 38 (5 runs)
New Zealand 212/3
(RR: 5.57)

SB Styris83 (92b 9x4)

LRPL Taylor89 (104b 8x4 1x6)

RA Jadeja6-0-36-0

PP Ojha8-0-47-0

38.1

Ojha to Styris,
SIX,
Fabulicious! Scotty rushes down the track and lifts it over the straight boundary.

38.2

Ojha to Styris,
no run,
steers this to Yuvraj at point

38.3

Ojha to Styris,
OUT,
Ojha takes him out! He had problem with Jadeja in the last over, playing across the line. And he does it again now. It was a loopy delivery on the middle and off stump line, Styris lunged forward and ended up playing all around it. He isn't happy as he walks off but what a fine knock this was. Oram walks in

SB Styris b Ojha 89 (132m 95b 9x4 1x6) SR: 93.68

38.4

Ojha to Oram,
no run,
turns in from well outside off and Dhoni collects

38.5

Ojha to Oram,
1 run,
floated full outside off, on driven to long-on

38.6

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
leans well forward to defend it back to Ojha

End of over 39 (7 runs)
New Zealand 219/4
(RR: 5.61)

LRPL Taylor89 (105b 8x4 1x6)

JDP Oram1 (2b)

PP Ojha9-0-54-1

RA Jadeja6-0-36-0

39.1

Jadeja to Oram,
FOUR,
around the leg stump line and Oram wrists it to fine-leg boundary and Ojha can't reach it. Oram just helped it along

39.2

Jadeja to Oram,
1 run,
gets down the track and drives to long-on

39.3

Jadeja to Taylor,
1 run,
on the middle stump line, dabbed to square-leg

39.4

Jadeja to Oram,
2 runs,
just outside off stump, driven wide of long-on and Taylor pushes hard to get back for the second run

39.5

Jadeja to Oram,
FOUR,
Ah! The reverse sweep. It was around the off stump line and he reverse swept it very fine through the vacant slip region

39.6

Jadeja to Oram,
1 run,
full and outside off stump, Oram pings long-on

End of over 40 (13 runs)
New Zealand 232/4
(RR: 5.80)

JDP Oram13 (7b 2x4)

LRPL Taylor90 (106b 8x4 1x6)

RA Jadeja7-0-49-0

PP Ojha9-0-54-1

40.1

Nehra to Oram,
1 run,
works this behind square-leg for a single

40.2

Nehra to Taylor,
2 runs,
gets back and across, reaches outside off and cuts to right of third man

40.3

Nehra to Taylor,
1 run,
short in length and outside off stump, cut off the back foot

40.4

Nehra to Oram,
no run,
Nehra tries the bouncer and Oram sways away. Taylor walks across for a chat

40.5

Nehra to Oram,
OUT,
Trapped! That bouncer is followed by a skidding short-of-length delivery on the middle-stump line. Oram wafted across the line, bat going across in an angle, and missed. Gone!

JDP Oram lbw b Nehra 14 (11m 10b 2x4 0x6) SR: 140.00

40.6

Nehra to Elliott,
1 run,
length delivery around off stump, tapped close on the off side and Taylor rushes across

End of over 41 (5 runs)
New Zealand 237/5
(RR: 5.78)

GD Elliott1 (1b)

LRPL Taylor93 (108b 8x4 1x6)

A Nehra7-1-32-2

RA Jadeja7-0-49-0

41.1

Ojha to Elliott,
no run,
Sharp turn. It landed around off stump and turned big. Dhoni collects this.

41.2

Ojha to Elliott,
1 run,
around the off stump line, worked across the line to midwicket

41.3

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
flighted delivery around the off and middle, squeezed to backward square-leg

41.4

Ojha to Elliott,
1 run,
on the middle and off line, turned behind square-leg

41.5

Ojha to Taylor,
no run,
around the leg stump line, quickish, worked to midwicket

41.6

Ojha to Taylor,
1 run,
around the off and middle, turned behind square-leg for yet another single

End of over 42 (4 runs)
New Zealand 241/5
(RR: 5.73)

LRPL Taylor95 (111b 8x4 1x6)

GD Elliott3 (4b)

PP Ojha10-0-58-1

A Nehra7-1-32-2

Prashant: "India's WC prospects depend heavily on Jadeja's performance in the upcoming matches, worse he performs, better would be India's chances, as they surely would do better without him. Misfit."

42.1

Nehra to Taylor,
no run,
fullish, jabbed out to short midwicket

42.2

Nehra to Taylor,
OUT,
Out five short of 100. He played a fab knock but he is gone now. It was the full-length delivery that straightened on the middle-stump line and he tried to work it across the line and missed it completely. Trapped! He has done the hard work and has put NZ in a strong position. Can the lower order push them on ahead?

LRPL Taylor lbw b Nehra 95 (173m 113b 8x4 1x6) SR: 84.07

42.3

Nehra to Hopkins,
1 wide,
short -of-length delivery that skids down the leg side . Taufel extends his arms

42.3

Nehra to Hopkins,
1 run,
around the off stump line, dabbed to point region

42.4

Nehra to Elliott,
1 wide,
Another one that slips down the leg side.

42.4

Nehra to Elliott,
no run,
short in length outside off stump, defended to the off side

Jadeja to Elliott,
no run,
It turned away from the off and middle line, the batsman lunged out to defend and the ball spun past the edge and to Dhoni who broke the stumps and appealed. Third ump, rightly, says not out

43.5

Jadeja to Elliott,
no run,
around the off stump, pushed out to right of short extra cover where Raina makes a diving stop

43.6

Jadeja to Elliott,
no run,
leans forward to drive to Raina

End of over 44 (4 runs)
New Zealand 251/6
(RR: 5.70)

GD Elliott6 (11b)

GJ Hopkins4 (3b)

RA Jadeja8-0-52-0

A Nehra8-1-38-3

Vinoth: "Did India miss the trick by bowling lot of Spin when Seamers have done well especially when the seamers have many overs left. Mithun has bowled only 4 overs. NZ has lot of seam bowling options so it looks like they have an upper hand now. "

44.1

Yuvraj Singh to Hopkins,
1 run,
around the off stump, slow, punched to deep-point region

44.2

Yuvraj Singh to Elliott,
1 run,
moves down the track and drives to long-on

44.3

Yuvraj Singh to Hopkins,
1 run,
stays back to punch it to sweeper cover

44.4

Yuvraj Singh to Elliott,
OUT,
Stumped! It drifted in from round the stumps and turned away. Elliott lunged forward to drive on the up and missed. Dhoni does the rest. NZ threatening to waste the end overs. India attempt to claw their way back

GD Elliott st †Dhoni b Yuvraj Singh 7 (20m 13b 0x4 0x6) SR: 53.84

Right .. as some of you have pointed out., Mithun left the field some while back.

44.5

Yuvraj Singh to Tuffey,
no run,
around the off stump line, and no run

44.6

Yuvraj Singh to Tuffey,
FOUR,
drags this short and Tuffey cracks it to the cover-point boundary.

End of over 45 (7 runs)
New Zealand 258/7
(RR: 5.73)

DR Tuffey4 (2b 1x4)

GJ Hopkins6 (5b)

Yuvraj Singh4-0-23-1

RA Jadeja8-0-52-0

45.1

Jadeja to Hopkins,
no run,
on the leg and middle line, jabbed away to the off side

45.2

Jadeja to Hopkins,
1 run,
stabs this one past square-leg for a single

45.3

Jadeja to Tuffey,
no run,
just outside off stump, guided to Yuvraj at backward point

45.4

Jadeja to Tuffey,
FOUR,
He leaned across, picked it from the middle and swung it to left of deep backward square-leg region where PK gets some hand on it but doesn't prevent it from running over

45.5

Jadeja to Tuffey,
no run,
gets forward to push this to covers

45.6

Jadeja to Tuffey,
SIX,
Thunderous! Tuffey unfurls the slog sweep to perfection. He swings this one over the on-side boundary. NZ move to 269

End of over 46 (11 runs)
New Zealand 269/7
(RR: 5.84)

DR Tuffey14 (6b 2x4 1x6)

GJ Hopkins7 (7b)

RA Jadeja9-0-63-0

Yuvraj Singh4-0-23-1

46.1

Nehra to Hopkins,
1 run,
slower one, pushed to the off side for a single

46.2

Nehra to Tuffey,
1 wide,
the short-pitched delivery but it sails past the pull shot and slips down the leg side for a wide

46.2

Nehra to Tuffey,
1 leg bye,
on the leg stump line, jabbed to the off side

46.3

Nehra to Hopkins,
1 run,
fullish and outside off, slashed away for a single

46.4

Nehra to Tuffey,
3 runs,
short of length delivery and it has been pulled to deep backward square-leg. Wild throw from the sub Virat and they take the extra run

Nehra to Tuffey,
OUT,
Tuffey holes out at long-on. He cleared the front foot and drilled it high but couldn't clear the fielder at the boundary. Nice little cameo from him though to push NZ towards 300. Can they reach there?

DR Tuffey c Ojha b Nehra 19 (18m 13b 2x4 1x6) SR: 146.15

48.5

Nehra to McKay,
OUT,
They won't. Raina with the direct hit. It was pushed towards short extra cover. Mills charged across. His partner had frozen long time back. Raina picked the ball, Mills turned back and Raina fired. Gone! Fine performance from NZ to survive the pressure exerted by the early wickets and reach this far.

KD Mills run out 9 (9m 5b 2x4 0x6) SR: 180.00

New Zealand were wobbling at 28 for 3 in 7 overs when Ross Taylor and Scott Styris scripted a fab come back. At one point they looked set for a total over 300 but once the duo fell, 300 always was going to be a stretch. Tuffey played a fine hand to push them to 288. Join us in a while for the run chase.

It will be Nitin who will start the commentary for the chase. Meanwhile, he has been furiously writing the first-innings bulletin. Do check it up in a short while.